Big Day of Serving Coming Back to Akron

Akron first among four cities to experience renewal from thousands of volunteers.

City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of stephanie york
Published: 04-01-2014

On Saturday, April 5, student, family, and adult volunteers from the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) will converge in Akron to bring renewal and assistance to its citizens and community. It is all part of a national effort called "RENEW: The Big Day of Serving" which is a series of one-day events in various cities where neighborhoods are transformed by people eager to serve.

Akron will be the first city the CMA is serving this year, with other cities including Chicago, IL, Staten Island, NY and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. The projects are created in accordance with the city's needs, such as painting, landscaping, cleaning and beautifying city blocks, alleyways, and parks. Some projects may also include removing graffiti and cleaning vacant lots. The cumulative attendance of all of the events is expected to be among the thousands.

Participants are coming from all over Ohio and its neighboring states, having registered to serve as families, youth ministries, small groups, adult Sunday school classes, women’s groups, and men’s groups.

The CMA derived its concept of “The Big Day of Serving” through a partnership with Group Mission Trips (Group)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Since 1977, Group has hosted nearly a quarter of a million participants and provided more than six million hours of volunteer service directly to people in need. Group makes a real difference by serving elderly and disadvantaged people, while also having fun working with friends and meeting other teens from the area.

This is the third year Akron will be hosting this type of project, working directly with Akron’s Department of Neighborhood Assistance and its “My Neighborhood Our Akron” initiative. With input from members of “My Neighborhood Our Akron,” this year’s volunteers will be doing various projects at many of our Community Centers, Fire Stations and the Fire Training Facility, Lock 3, and City parks, among other designated city venues. Volunteers will be doing general cleaning, painting, planting, mulching, and beautification, along with other needed tasks.

“This is one of the most worthwhile, fun, and energizing events we hold in the City,” noted Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. “Hundreds of volunteers start out on Saturday morning with an opening rally at Lock 3, and then they are disbursed to many different locations throughout the city. These volunteers truly make a difference in our city and in the lives of our residents, and I thank all the volunteers for their hard work.”

“It's always inspiring to serve alongside of the City of Akron and the inspiring team that serves under Mayor Plusquellic,” said Tony Myles, Director of The Big Day of Serving. “Their professional, personal care behind-the-scenes has kept me coming back every year, especially since the youth and adults who come to serve feel it. It's a win for everyone, from the projects and people who get blessed to those who feel humbled to bring that blessing.”

Attendees have paid a registration fee within the Christian Missionary Alliance to come and serve. The extra proceeds from the registration costs will additionally bring renewal and education to children who live in a garbage dump in Trujillo, Peru. (http://incalink.org/ministries/elim/)